Review of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenusL. 1758) (Actinopterygii: Acipenseridae) feeding  habits in the River Danube, 1694–852 river km

Abstract

The aim of this work is to present the variation in the sterlet's (Acipenser ruthenus L. 1758) diet along the course of the River Danube, from 1694 to 852 river km. The diet of sterlet mostly comprised 12 bottom fauna taxa. Sterlet in the Danube feed mainly on larvae of Trichoptera, Chironomidae (Diptera) and Gammaridae (Amphipoda), with a reduction in food composition variability close to the Djerdap I dam and in the reservoir between the two dams. The other components of the diet were Corophium sp., Asselus sp., Mollusca, Oligochaeta, Annelida, Insecta, Nematoda and Hirudinea. The organisms typical of lithorheophilic and psammorheophilic biocoenoses play a considerable role in the diet of the sterlet. Composition of bottom fauna as food items varies due to changes in environmental conditions induced mainly by the construction of two dams: Djerdap I (943 river km, 1970) and Djerdap II (863 river km, 1984).

Monitoring of hydrochemical parameters of the recirculating aquasystem in the early stages of ontogeny of Acipenser Ruthenus

“…В природних умовах молодь Acipenser Ruthenus живиться зоопланктоном -Daphnia , Moina, Bosmina та зообентосом -Gammaridae, Oligochaeta, Polychaeta, Chironomidae, Mysida (Djikanovic et al,, 2014). Задля підвищення виживання молоді Acipenser Ruthenus в штучних умовах доцільно в перші 5 -7 днів розпочинати годівлю живими кормами.…”

Past and Future of Sturgeon Species (Acipenseridae) in Western Balkans: Case for Permanent Conservation or Sustainable Management

“…The organisms typical of lithorheophilic and psammorheophilic biocoenoses play a considerable role in the diet of the sterlet. Composition of bottom fauna as food items varies due to changes in environmental conditions induced mainly by the construction of two dams: Djerdap I (943 river km, 1970) and Djerdap II (863 river km, 1984) (Djikanovic et al 2015).…”

“…On the Volga River, after the construction of dams, sturgeons lose 80-85% of history spawning grounds, with beluga spawning grounds reduced almost 100% (Secor et al 2000). Dams construction in Iron Gate area of the Danube River influenced variation in composition of bottom fauna (Janković et al 1994;Djikanovic et al 2015). Even in situation where there was no dam obstruction (e.g., the Ural River), sturgeons lost 50% of spawning grounds due to pollution and sedimentation (Secor et al 2000).…”

Freshwater as a Sustainable Resource and Generator of Secondary Resources in the 21st Century: Stressors, Threats, Risks, Management and Protection Strategies, and Conservation Approaches

“…The Danube watershed, particularly in its middle and lower course, faces overfishing, mostly at the level of targeted fishable species. First and foremost, from the Acipenseridae family, the stationary fish species Acipenser ruthenus is endangered, mainly due to the pressure on juveniles [ 119 , 179 , 180 ].…”